Wedge heel turning machine



Nov. 30, 1954 Filed Jan. 24, 1952 J. P. QUIRK ET AL WEDGE HEEL TURNING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTORS JUSTIN F? QUIRK NORRIS D. DALTON Lu DWIG G. F: .HAFNER ATTORNEY 1954 J. P, QUIRK ETAL WEDGE HEEL TURNING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1952 mmvroxs JUSTIN P. QUIRK NORRIS D. DALTON L owlc G.F? HAFNER BY M/n/g ATTO EY Nov. 30, 1954 J. PfQUiRK ETAL 5 5 WEDGE HEEL TURNING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1952 3 shts-sheetz FIG. 4.

FIG.6.

INVENTORS Jusrm RQUIRK NORRIS D. DALTON game G.P. HAFNER BY MM.

ATTORNEY A United States Patent WEDGE HEEL TURNING MACHINE Justin P. Quirk and Norris D. Dalton, St. Louis County, and Ludwig G. P. Hafner, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Quirk Machinery Company, St. Louis, Mo., 2 corporation of Delaware Application January 24, 1952, Serial No. 267,964

7 Claims. (Cl. 144144) This invention pertains to an apparatus for forming the contour of'shoe heels, more particularly of the socalled wedge heels which extend forward under the instep.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine suitable for turning wedge heels, which will be eflicient and speedy in operation, and in which spoilage will be reduced to a minimum.

Heretofore, so far as is known, wedge heels have been turned manually by bringing the blank into engagement successively and separately with two rapidly rotating cutters. In apparatus used for this purpose, a blank is clamped in a manually operable jack, which however is guided in part by cams, or tracks shaped to give a particular contour and size to the heel. Such an op- 'eration is slow, resulting in high labor cost, and is also wasteful in that spoilage is great especially by reason of splitting or wedging at the breast corners.

There is no known automatic machine which has been used commercially or which is capable of commercial use in the production of wedge heels. While it is possible to produce a wedge heel on the machine disclosed in Quirk and Hafner Patent No. 2,488,100, such production, at least commercially, is impractical due in part to slow- 'ness of operation (when used for this purpose).

Generally stated the machine as illustrated in the ac:

conipanying drawings comprises a work holder, in which the work piece may be clamped, mounted opposite a rotary cutter for engagement therewith to form the heel. The work holder is mounted for rotation on an axis and a template cam of the shape of the heel is mounted to rotate therewith on the same axis. The work holder and cam are mouted on supporting means which is movable radially and tangentially with respect to the cutter. Driving means for all these movements are relatively timed so that the work holder is spaced a greater distance from the cutter when the front side portions of the work are being formed than when the rear is formed. This provides a relatively slow movement at points where the shape of the heel changes from convex to concave, and avoids any tendency of the cutter to jump over the concave parts, and to split or wedge off the breast corners.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 7 Fig. 1 is a front View of a machine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the right hand portion of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts after a half-revolution of the work piece; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a finished wedge heel.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing 1 designates a base or pedestal on which the heel-forming devices are mounted, and 2 is a similar base carrying auxiliary apparatus. Movable on a pivot 3, journalled in the pedestal 1, is a table 4. Journalled on vertical axes on the table 4 is a series of grooved guide rollers 5 providing a traveling guide for a carriage 6. A cutter 7 is mounted for rotation on a head 8 on the base 1, and driven by any suitable means, not shown. This cutter may have its blades formed to any desired contour, so as to form .the work to the corresponding shape.

Mounted for rotation on a vertical shaft 10a, jour- 2,695,640 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 "ice nalled in a boss 9on the carriage 6 is a template cam one end to the carriage 6 and anchored at its other end to a pin 12 on the table 4, operates to bias the carriage 6 so as to maintain the cam 10 in engagement with a circular follower 13 mounted for rotation on a pin 14 in the head 8. The pin 14 is coaxial with the cutter 7. The shaft of the template 10 also carries a worm wheel 15, by means of which it may be driven in rotation. The template 10 is preferably mounted so as to be removable, so that it may be replaced with other cams for forming heels of different shapes.

Mounted on a vertical shaft journalled in a bracket 16 rigidly mounted on the carriage 6 is a work holder or jack 17 adapted to receive the work piece 18. This shaft also carries a worm wheel 19'for driving: the holder 17 in rotation. The shafts of the template 10 and the holder 17 are also coaxial. A clamp jaw 20, adapted to engage the top of the work piece, is carried by a cross bar 21, pivoted at 22 on the bracket 16, and controlled at its fther end by a lever 23, as will be more fully described ater.

A vertical shaft 24 journalled in a bracket 25 on the pedestal 2 carries at its lower end a crank member 26. Slidably mounted in V-grooves in the member 26 is a slide 27 carrying a crank pin 28 and adjustable to any position in the member 26 by a screw 29. A connecting rod 30 connects the crank pin 28 with a similar pin 31 on the underside of the table 4. Thus, rotation of the crank 26 will impart to the table 4 through the rod 30 an oscillatory pivotal movement about the pivot 3. The shaft 24 also carries a worm wheel 32 by which it may be driven. A motor 33 mounted on a bracket 34 on the pedestal 2 operates through a clutch 35 to drive a shaft 36, journalled in the bracket 25 and carrying a worm 37 engaging the worm wheel 32, to drive the shaft 24.

The shaft 36 is also connected by a flexible joint 38 to an extensible shaft section comprising a sleeve 39 and a square shaft 40 slidable therein. The shaft 40 is connected by a flexible joint 41 to a shaft 42 journalled in the carrier 6. The shaft 42 carries a worm 43 engaging a worm wheel 15 on the shaft 10a of the cam 10 to drive the latter in rotation. The shaft 42 is also connected, through miter gears 45 and 46, and flexible shaft 47, to drive a shaft 48 journalled in the bracket 16. The shaft 48 carries a worm 49 engaging the worm wheel 19 to drive the work holder 17.

The speed ratio between the shafts 42 and 48 is one to one, so that the template 10 and the work holder 17 are driven to rotate in unison. The speed ratio between the shafts 24 and 42 is also one to one, so that, by operation of the crank 26, the table 4 is swung through one complete cycle of oscillation in the same time that the template and work holder make one revolution.

- Suitable apparatus for feeding blanks to the jack 17 is illustrated in Quirk and Hafner Patent No. 2,548,321, which also discloses apparatus suitable for timing and controlling operation of the jack. A pair of gripping i1 rms350 of such a feeding mechanism are shown in Control devices for timing the operations are mounted on the pedestal 2 (Fig. 1) and comprise a sleeve 51 on the shaft 24, said sleeve being shiftable on said shaft through a limited angle fixed by a lug; 52 on the shaft moving in a slot 53 in the sleeve. The sleeve 51 carries a ratchet device 54 for moving the sleeve, and a! series of control earns 55 and 56.

Upon delivery of a heel blank to the holder 17 by the arms 50, a valve (not shown), operated in accordance with the movement of said arms, actuates a pneumatic cylinder 58 to operate the ratchet 54 to shift the sleeve 51 and the cams thereon. This sets up a sequence of operation in which, (a) the cam 55 operates an air valve 59 which in turn operates a cylinder 60 to .move the lever 23 to press the clamp 20 down upon the work piece; (b) the cam 56 actuates a valve 61 controlling a cylinder 62 which moves a lever 63, pivoted on a vertical pivot at 64, to operate the clutch 35 to start rotation of the shaft .36; (c) the shaft 36 drives the shafts 42 and 48 to cause the template cam and the work piece to make one revolution while the table 4' simultaneously swings through one cycle of oscillation; (d) about before the completion of one revolution the air is released from the cylinder so -as to release the clamp 20, after which-a cam 57'onthe shaft'24 actuates a valve 'which supplies air to. an ejector cylinder 66, which projects its plunger 67 to strike the work piece and eject it from the holder 17 intoasuitabie receptacle; The return of these devices to their'starting positions is carried out automatically, as described in the aforementioned patent.

Fig. 3 shows the positions of the various parts at that pointin the cycle'of operations at which the work piece is loaded onto the holder. All parts are stationary'at' this moment. The cam lilis mounted on its shaft 10a in such position that the axis of said shaft passes through the rear portion-of the heel'blank, as shown in Fig. 3, and the'heel'blank is mounted in a similar position on-the holder 17. The cam has a forward portion 10b extending beyond'the breast'line of the heel blank. With this portion 10b resting against the follower 13, the heel blank is held clear of the cutter for loading.

The cycle of operations starts from the position ofFig. 3. As the shaft 10a rotates in the counterclockwise direction the table 4 swings upward (Fig. 3) on its pivot 3 (to theright in Fig. l). Duringthis rotation the movement of the carriage 6 along the table 4 is controlled by the engagement of the cam 10 with the follower 13. Where the portion ltib of the cam joins the concave portion of the heel blankthere is a rather sharp convex portion Me. It has been found difiicult heretofore to form the concave portion of the heel on account of' the rapid changes in the directions of movement at this point. In accordance with thepresent'invention the lateral swing of the table 4 makes the relative movements-much slower. By the time the portion ltlc has come into engagement with the follower, the shaft 10a has turned through about and the table has movedpractically to the limit of its lateral. swing. The template isthen in about the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3. In this position the Work piece has been placed sothat the cutter can easily enter the hollow portion of the heel blank, and the carriage 6 is in relatively slow' motion toward the cutter, so as to facilitate the movement. It has been found that this eliminates anytendency for the cutter to jump the hollow part of the heel without cutting'to'the required depth.

In accordance with this invention, therefore, the work supportis given a rotary movement on its own axis, and

simultaneous movements'of translation, both radially and laterally or tangentially with respect to the cutter, and these movements combine as to provide a smooth and elven cutting operation adapted to produce a perfect heel s ape.

It may be understood that various parts of: apparatus, disclosed in Quirk and Hafner Patent No. 2,488,100, may be incorporated in or used'in connection with the present invention. This is particularly the case in connection With-the means there disclosed for automatically tilting the blank with reference to the cutter in timed relation to the rotation of the blank.

Itis also contemplated thatthe present invention may be soused as to practice the method disclosed in Quirk and :Hafner Patent No. 2,487,672. It will be noted from Figs. 3 andS that the directionof rotation of the work piece is opposite to that of the cutter 7, the former being counter-clockwise and the latter clockwise, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. With these directions of rotation so related, it may be seen from Fig. 3 that at the first engagement of the cutter with the heel blank, the relation is-such-that the first cut takes off a very small chip. At the same time, the direction of the cut is at a relatively steep angle, with respect to the longitudinal face of the blank, and therefore, with respect to the direction of the grain of the wood. As the successive blades of the cutter operate upon the blank, each removes a very small chip and at 'a progressively shallower angle than its predecessor. As. the operation continues, the blank advances toward the .cutter and rotates in such a manner that its shapeis gradually changed by the removal of a succession of small chips ofshavings until the direction of movement of the cutter blade as it finishes its cut is substantially parallel to the finished surface of the work. Accordingly, by virtue of this gradual change from a steep angle of cut to a parallel cut, and that a very small chip of material is removed at each cut, the likelihood of chipping or splinterin'gthe heel blank' at the breast corner" is greatly reduced.

While the apparatus of the present invention has been developed for the production of wedge heels, and it is particularly adapted for that use, it may also be used for producing similar shapes to be turned. Such similar shapes may be indicated generally as those which have a length substantially longer than their width, and especially those with an irregular contour, notably such as have both concave andconvex portions. These may be exemplified' as handles and backsfor brushes.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of'this invention. Parts of the invention may be used without the whole, and improvements may be added while retaining some or all of the advantages of this invention.

We claim:

1; Anapparatusfor formingwedge heelsand similar shapes comprising, arotary cutter, a workaholdervadapted to hold a work piece in fixed relation thereto, a template cam having a shape corresponding t'o th'e'horizontal contour of the heel, asupporton which said-holder and said cam are'mounted. in matching relation and for rotation on a common axis passing through the'rear portion of each, a follower. positioned adjacent said cutter. andfengageable by said cam, said'support' including a carriage mounted'for movement radially with'respect to. saidcutter; biasing. means for said'carriage maintaining. said cam inengagement with said-follower, asupport for saidcarriage movable laterally with respect to said radial movement, and mutually synchronizeddriving means for rotating said cam and work holder on their common aXis and imparting such. lateral reciprocating, movement tosaid last support:

2. An apparatus for forming wedge heels andsimilar shapes comprising, a rotary cutter, a work holder" adapted to hold a workpiece in fixed. relation thereto, atemplatecamhaving arshapeicorresponding to the horizontalcontour of the heel, a support on whichsaid holder'and's'aid cam are. mountedin matching relation and for rotation on a common axisrpassing throughthe rear portionof each, a follower positioned adjacent said cutter. and engageable by said cam, said" support including a carriage mounted for movementradially with respect to said cutter, biasingmeans for said carriage maintainingsaid cam in engagement with said follower, a support for'said'carriage movable laterally with respect to said radial movement,

' and mutually synchronized driving means for rotating said cam and'work holder on their common axis and laterally reciprocating said last support, said driving means being mechanically interconnected so that both execute their complete cycles in the same time.

3. An apparatus for forming wedge heels and similar shapes of the character described comprising, a rotary cutter, a work holder mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis of the heel, a template cam mounted in fixed relation to said holder and having a shape corresponding'to the horizontal contour of the heel, a follower adjacent said cutter engageable by said cam', means for supporting said holder for radial and tangential'movement with respect to said cutter, biasing means maintaining said cam in engagement with said follower, and driving means for rotating said holder and simultaneously imparting said tangential movement thereto, while the work piece is in engagement with'said cutter said last means including means for varying the extent of said tangential movement.

4. An apparatus for forming wedge heels and similar v shapes of the character described'comprising, arotary cutter, a work holder mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis of the heel, a spindle supporting said work holder for such rotation, a template cam fixed on said spindle having a shape corresponding to the horizontal contour of the heel, a follower adjacent said cutter engageable by said cam, a supporting base movable tangentially of said cutter, a carriage movable onsaid base radially of said cutter on which said spindle is mounted'for rotation, a shaft having a crank arm thereon, connections from said crank arm to said base for imparting thereto said tangential movement, and driving means rotating said'shaft and said spindle in synchronism.

5. An apparatusfor formingwedge heels and similar shapes comprising; a base, a table pivotally mounted on said base for oscillation on its pivot, a carriage mounted for movement on said base radially with respect to said pivot, a cutter mounted for rotation above said table on an axis positioned medially of such oscillating movement, a work holder mounted on said carriage for rotation relative to said cutter, a template cam having a shape corresponding to the horizontal contour of the heel mounted for rotation on said carriage coaxially with said work holder, a follower supported coaxially with said cutter and engageable by said cam, means biasing said carriage to maintain said cam in engagement with said follower, means for rotating said work holder and said cam in unison, and means for oscillating said table in timed relation to such rotation.

6. An apparatus for forming wedge heels and similar shapes comprising, a base, a table pivotally mounted on said base for oscillation on its pivot, a carriage mounted for movement on said base radially with respect to said pivot, a cutter mounted for rotation above said table on an axis positioned medially of such oscillating movement, a work holder mounted on said carriage for rotation relative to said cutter on an axis adjacent the rear of the heel, a template cam having a shape corresponding to the horizontal contour of the heel mounted for rotation on said carriage coaxially with said work holder, a follower supported coaxially with said cutter and engageable by said cam, means biasing said carriage to maintain said cam in engagement with said follower, means for rotating said work holder and said cam in unison, and means for oscillating said table in timed relation to such rotation such that said carriage is near the limits of its swing when the front side portions of the work piece engage the cutter.

7. An apparatus for forming wedge heels and similar shapes comprising: a rapidly rotating cutter, a rotating jack for holding and rotating a blank and for bringing the blank into and out of engagement with the cutter and for guiding the blank while in engagement with the cutter, a driving shaft for rotating the jack, a cam secured on said shaft, a follower aligned with said cutter and engaging the cam to shift the jack upon its rotation radially with respect to the axis of the cutter, a crank and pitman connected with the jack to shift the jack laterally with respect to said radial movement, and common means for rotating said driving shaft and said crank together in synchronism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,300,815 Cameron Apr. 15, 1919 1,862,898 Knight June 14, 1932 1,932,818 Guida Oct. 31, 1933 2,090,024 Bradbury Aug. 17, 1937 2,279,876 Straw Apr. 14, 1942 2,426,487 Clausing Aug. 26, 1947 2,573,692 Constantine et al. Nov. 6, 1951 

